The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1887-03-21
TALE OF ATELEcRAM.
BY KATE PUTNAM osGooD.
Harper's Bazaar.

hat with a low bow, the sunlight brought
out the furnishing black Of his close-cut hair
and threw into stronger relief his bronzed,
handsome face, to which slight scar on one
cheek gave touch of the romantic and pic
turesque. So thought Maud, after her brief,
comprehensive survey.
Il beg your pardon" said the stranger
tanning himself with his straw hat as he
spoke, but can you tell me If Mr.. Estabrook
Is here?'
"Oh," thought Maud, lone of Toms
friends" Then aloud, "Yes--.hat is, he
lives here, but he isn't at home to-day"
As the newcomer stood irresolute, Maud
gave him another quick look. which summed
up his whole appearance, from his six feet
of stature and the light pedestrian garb that
set it Off, to the knapsack hanging over his
broad shoulders. Then she said hesitating-
ly: HE may be back tonight Won't you
come up to the house and rest? 1t is so
warml And my mother will be glad to see
any friend of Toms"
The young man returned her inquiring
glance as he answered, also with some hest
tation: Thanks. 1t is very warm, GER
tainly. should be delighted to pay my re-
spects to--AIrs. Estabrook, If she will permit
me-"
With that he put ON his hat again, and the
two walked along together under the acacia
trees, while he introduced himself as Mar
ston Folliott. just now pedestrianizing in
that region. To which she responded with
the information that she was Toms sis
ter"
In this way they reached the house, where
Mrs. Estabrook was discovered in the cool
north parlor She received her sons friend
very Hospitality. inviting him to await Toms
return, which was expected by the next
morning at latest
Mr.. Folhott's manner was again hesitating
as he half glanced at Maud. Il really ought
not to take advantage began.
But Mrs. Estabrook, a nervous excitable
woman, given to starts and broken sentences,
interrupted him: ''No, mol Pray don't say
so. Really, 1t would relieve mymind now
that my son is away; and of course Peter
must choose this very time-Maud, Peter
hasn't come back yet? No. not man on
the place, and this is such a solitary neigh
borhodo Burglars and tramps would have
us quite at their mercy"
So the young man accepted the urgent in
yltation, and the afternoon wore away
pleasantly with music and conversation,
and strolling about the grounds.
1t was almost tea time. The two ladies
with their guest were sitting ON the breezy
piazza when telegraph messenger came up
the steps, delivered his yellow-covered mis-
siye, and was off again like shot out of
sight.
'.From Tom, probably" said Mrs. Esta-
brook. "Mr. Folliott, you will excuse meP''
She broke open the envelope, while the
conversation between the two young people
went on. But it was suddenly interrupted
by an inarticulate sound from Mrs Esta-
brook, and looking around, they saw hel
white and trembling. Maud ran to hel
mother and put her arm about her.
81 hope you have received no bad news,
said Mr. Folliott, But as he advanced, Mrs
Estabrook waved him back, with poor at
tempt at a smile.
'Oh no, not bad at all-only little-a lit
tle-unexpected. Then she conveyed
silent summons to Maud's anxious eye, add
ing, with the same forced lightness. "If 20
will excuse our leaving you alone for me
ment Mr.. Folliott, / have little household
matter to arrange with my daughter. Tha
is all, indeed. 1t is only for a moment-onl
moment, / assure YOU"
As they withdrew she sedulously retuine
Mr. Folliott's boy, all the while preserving
set smile strangely at variance with her pal
face. But no sooner had they entered tn
house than it dropped away, as she turned t
her daughter and said, in a hollow whisper
MAUD, that man is a burglar!''
Maud stared at this startling announc'
ment. "What man, mammal"
THAT man out there-that Folliott, as /
calls himself HeIisn't a friend Of Tom
just read thisfrom Amelia"
Maud took the telegram, which was fro
her married sister, living some 90 miles di
tant This was what it contained:
"Haye just learned from nursemaid of susp
clous stranger making heI ACQUAINTANCE; ASK
Seemed to know something of Tom. Tai, OAR
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, and has a scar on OF
cheek Look out for him."
HAS a scar on one cheekw echoed MAI
family, after an instant's blank silence.
"Oh, Maud, what shall we do?" moan'
Mrs. Estabrook sinking into a seat ''AI
we have actually invited him to tea-a Blu
glarl Well, for friend, thought he seem'
very uncertain about Tom"
81 noticed that, too" answered Mau
with bent brow, recalling certain unread
ness of tone and manner which had strnt
her at the time. Mamma" she continue
"we must send Bridget or Maggie over
the village for help"
s'No," almost screamed Mrs. Estabroo
mot another. person must leave the hous
How could Peter choose the very day Tt
Nban ha kOnuyC how
am, too! And to think told that-that d,
perado out there that there wasn't m
about the place! Maud! Maud! what sh
we do?"
II think / have a plan, mamma" S;
Maud. raising her head from her bro'
study. await moment" She flew I
stairs and down again. Nov come out
the piazza. He mustn't suspect anything
The TWO ladies reloined their unwelco
guest and Mrs. Estabrook rushed into few
ISL conversation with him. But her t;
was of a singularly warlike kind, turn
mainly upon reyolvers and the prohcleI
attained in the use of these deadly weapt
by Bridget and Maggie, two unsophlstica
handmaidens, who in fact would not hi
known toy pistol from a Gatling-gl
Maud, IN spite of her tension of ankle
grew speechless with laughter behind
fan as she listened, furtively watching
strangers face and noting his just-control
uhcdoinOSS',
resolution, he began abruptly, Il really
in a very false position"
''0h, beg your pardon, Mr.. Folli0t
quickly inLerposed Maud, fearing that,
his rising suspicious, she would lose
carefully prepared coup. IF you would !
have Just time before tea.
The young man rose ut this hint, a
Maud, volunteering to show the way, acco
panied him up the broad staircase, q
smilingly indicated the room where his KIN
sack had been left. No sooner mad
stepped within than, quick as a flash,
girl shut the door and locked 1t on the {
side, where she had already placed the
Srhen she leaned painting against the
and listened to the movements of the trap
For few moments there was perfect
hence, as II he was trying to realize
meaning of that click OF the lock; then
heard him go to the door and turn the b
die, first softly, then louder and loue
Maud clasped her hands tightly togetl
feeling almost hysterical between laugh
and nervousness. Then the rafting stop
and voice said slowly:
miss Estabrookl Are you still there !?
"Yes," answered Mand, holding
breath.
"You are not aware that you have loci
me imp"
Maud hesitated for an instant. But sil
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